VP: Educate undocumented Filipino kids in Sabah

Vice President Jejomar Binay said the Malaysian government is considering the Philippine government’s request to help 30,000 undocumented Filipino children in Northern Borneo continue with their education.

In his recent visit to Malaysia, Binay met with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education Tan Sri Dato Muhyiddin bin Yassin and discussed further collaboration in trade, investment and the recent signing of a memo–randum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in the field of edu–cation between the two countries.

In the meeting, he asked Malaysia to help find “creative and effective” means through the MOU on Education to address the lack of access to education of undocu–mented children in North Borneo.

At present, the embassy and the Filipino community in North Borneo provide opportunities for the undocumented children to learn the basics of reading, writing and simple mathematics in alternative learning centers.

“I commend the Philippine embassy and the Filipino com–munity for their service. I am hopeful the government of Malaysia will act favorably on our request to help provide basic education for our undocumented children,” Binay said.

He was in Malaysia from June 17 to 19 to attend the inauguration of the World Scout Bureau offices in Kuala Lumpur in his capacity as the National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. The World Scout relocated its operational headquarters from Geneva to Kuala Lumpur.

During the visit, the Vice President also paid a courtesy call on Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Binay also met with the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur and attended a breakfast meeting with Filipino businessmen at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral Hotel, where the Filipino Businessmen and Professionals Caucus was launched.